ES2250388T3 - INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDE WITH MEDIA GUIDE INTERFACE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for allowing a user of an interactive media guide to access media provided by a plurality of media sources through a display screen, the method comprising: providing media group options, in which the media options media group indicate the media available to the user, indicating any of the content, titles, or sources of the media; provide a plurality of media indicators in response to the user's selection of a media group option, in which the media indicators are associated with the selected media group option, and in which the plurality of media indicators media identifies the media provided by the plurality of media sources, and wherein the plurality of media indicators includes a first media indicator for the available media according to a programmed base and a second media indicator for the media available on a unscheduled base; and execute an action associated with the media indicator in response to the user's selection of a media indicator, based on the plurality of the media indicators.

Description

Interactive media guide with guide interface media.

Background of the invention

Video and audio media, such as TV shows, programs pay-per-view programs quasivideo on demand (NVOD), video on demand programs (VOD), music, promotional material, and other types of media, can be distributed to viewers through networks wired or radio networks. The right networks Wired or radio networks may include, for example, networks of a general broadcast television system, networks of a One-way and two-way cable television system, services digital broadcasting (DBS) and other networks of supply services by satellite, Internet network, and other suitable types of networks. Quasivid on demand (NVOD) and video on demand systems Demand (VOD) have been developed to allow viewers watching programs almost on demand or on demand demand.

The viewers and listeners of these media they typically record such media on videocassettes, audiocassettes, and in other storage media. More recently, they have developed other means that allow users to manage your viewing experiences and record the media with a increased flexibility Personal video recorders (PVR), such as those supplied by TIVO and REPLAY, record programs on hard drives Users can schedule programs to record and then play them at a later time. These systems also record what users are seeing in real time, allowing users to schedule the programs in real time when, for example, you have to leave the TV room. Users can resume viewing when returning to the room TV, in the part where they stayed, and can even make a fast forward through advertising ads until reach the point at which the program is being provided in course. Users can also rewind the programs.

The recording capabilities of current technologies and the vast amount of media offered through media distribution systems such as cable television systems, digital broadcasting services, the Internet, and other systems, provide users with a lot of media available at any point in time. When a user requests "what is now", the answer can be any of different types of media from different sources. The improvement of the user interfaces of interactive media guides, such as interactive program guides, audio service guides, personal video recorder guides (PVRS), or any other suitable interactive media guide, can be increased with the ease with which users navigate through stored and distributed media
two.

WO 94/13107 discloses a terminal decoder for television supply systems by cable, which includes the ability to interrogate viewers to set the information mode.

Summary of the invention

The invention is set forth in the attached claims. Some optional features are set forth in the dependent claims.

This invention is related to the guidelines of interactive media and more particularly with program guides They provide a guide for large amounts of media. Be describe various functions according to some embodiments of the present invention, for example, in the document "Systems of interactive television program guide with Listings of integrated programs ", WO 01/78382, published on October 18 of 2001.

The interactive media guide of this invention can be used for any type of media distributed (for example, television programs, VOD programs, NVOD programs, PPV programs, audio programs, etc.), provided to a user in any suitable way (by example, via cable, satellite, transmission over radio frequency, Internet, etc.), and for anything that the User wants to record. The interactive media guide introduces the user "what is now" in a friendly way for the user, through the summary of distributed media and stored available, without using information related to the title, source, or media content (for example, criteria the inclusion of media in a group may be predefined by the user, or any other criteria). In some embodiments, the interactive media guide of the present invention may include a television program guide Interactives implemented using any architecture adequate.

In some embodiments, users are provided with an interactive media guide from which they can have access to related media. In some embodiments, the media can be grouped independently in their title, sources or content, but related in other ways than allow users to more easily search for media desired For example, suitable groups may be corresponding to Recent Favorites, Old Favorites, Recommendations, Navigation, Special Interest, Categories, and Previous exploration. In some embodiments, the groups may further divided into media subgroups.

Groups and subgroups can be configurable by the user, or they can be programmed in the guide of interactive media. In some embodiments, the groups and Subgroups can be dynamically selected by the media guide interactive based on available media, therefore providing the user with a dynamic guide.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the media can be grouped according to the source, title or content in various related ways. Media listings can be provided with the various select viewable (ie "successes") for the source, categories, or others groups If desired, a combination of solutions, in which the groupings that are not related to the title, source or content may contain subgroups that are related to the media, title, or contents. Additionally, groups that are not related to the title, source or content may also contain the hits of the different selectable selections related to the groups

The additional features of the invention, its nature, and the various advantages will be more evident to from the attached drawings and the following description detailed of the preferred embodiments.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative system according to an embodiment of the present invention

Figures 2a - 2e show configurations illustrative for the television program guide team interactive figure 1, according to different embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrative of the user television equipment of figures 2a - 2e according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram generalized schematic of the television equipment parts of illustrative user of figure 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5a shows a template of illustrative display of an interactive media guide of according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5b shows an illustrative screen of an interactive media guide that visualizes the groups that indicate the media without indicating the content, title or source of the means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5c shows an illustrative screen of an interactive media guide that displays agreement subgroups with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows an illustrative screen of an interactive media guide that visualizes the groups that can indicate means through the indication of the content, title, or media source, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7a shows an interface screen illustrative of an interactive media guide that visualizes groups that indicate media without indicating the content, title or source of the means, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7b shows an illustrative screen of an interactive media guide that displays the titles of means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7c shows an illustrative screen of an interactive media guide that displays media titles according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8a shows a screen of a illustrative configuration that allows the user the power configure the groups displayed in a media guide interactive in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8b shows a screen of illustrative configuration that allows the user to configure the groups displayed in an interactive media guide according with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8c shows a presentation screen illustrative to enter a search query according to An embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9a is a flow chart of the illustrative stages included in the creation and visualization of a interactive media guide according to an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 9b is a flow chart of the Illustrative stages included in the configuration of a guide interactive media according to the user's preferences of according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9c is a flow chart of the Illustrative stages included in the configuration of a guide interactive media according to the user's preferences of according to an embodiment of the present invention

Detailed description of the invention

The interactive media guide of this invention can be based on several hardware platforms different. The right hardware that can be used in the Program guide implementation includes hardware such as satellite receivers, personal computer televisions (PC / TV), personal computers (for example, with cards television tuner), cable decoder equipment, or any other suitable hardware. In some embodiments, the interactive media guide can be a program guide of interactive television The program guide systems of Illustrative interactive television are described by example, in US Pat. No. 5589892 of Knee et al., and that known by the applicant with respect to the patent of the USA No. 09/357941 of Knudson et al., registered on 16 July 1999 (WO00 / 33560). The program guide systems of the client-server type are known by the applicant with respect to the US patent application No. 09/374043 of Ellis and others, registered on August 13, 1999 (US 2003-0020744). The guidance systems of online programs are described, for example, in the U.S. Patent Serial number 08/938028 from Boyer and others, registered on September 8, 1997 (WO09 / 26584).

In some embodiments, the media guide Interactive can allow users to record programs on digital or analog storage devices (for example, videocassettes, hard drives, floppy disks, flash memory, drives recordable compact (CDS), recordable digital versatile discs (DVD), or any other type of storage. They describe interactive media guides that have digital storage, by example, in the US patent application: serial number 09/157256, by Hassell et al., Registered on September 17, 1998

Media recording can be done also through a program guide or another server. The system-based program guides client-server with recording on a remote server are described, for example, in the patent application of The USA. No. 09/332244 of Ellis and others, registered on 11 June 1999 (WO00 / 04706).

Online program guides can record also programs or instruct a user team To record the programs.

An illustrative system is shown in Figure 1 100 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The main installation 120 provides the guide data of programs from source 140 of the program guide data to the team of the interactive television program guide 170, for  communication link medium 180. There may be multiple data sources in the program guide, but only shown one to avoid overcomplication of the drawing. If desired, the data sources in the program guide may be located in separate facilities of the main facility 120, such as in local information services 150, and have your data supplied to main facility 120 for location and distribution. Sources 140 of the program guide data they can be any computer based system to get the data (for example, manually using an operator, electronically through a computer network or another connection, or through storage media), and converting the data in an electronic format for distribution by main installation 120. Communications link 180 can be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or either a fiber optic link, a microwave link, a link Internet, a combination of such links, or any other proper communications link. The video signals can be also transmitted through communications link 180 if This is desired.

The local information service 150 may be any suitable installation to obtain particular data for a localized area and supplying the data to the installation main 120 through communications link 410. The local information services 150 may for example be a weather station that measures the weather data, a local newspaper that obtains sports information from schools, or any other suitable provider of information. Local information services 150 may also be a local business with a computer to supply the facility main 120, for example, local ski reports, fishing status, menus, etc., or any other supplier adequate information. Link 410 can be a link by satellite, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber link optics, a microwave link, an internet link, a combination of such links, and well any other link of proper communications.

The data of the transmitted program guide by main installation 120 to equipment 170 of the guide interactive television programs can include data from the television programming (for example, identifiers of programs, hours, channels, titles, program information, video information under demand, promotional information and descriptions) and other data for services other than those listed of television programs (for example, help text, Pay per view information, weather information, sports information, music channel information, links to associated Internet WEB pages, associated software, etc.). There are preferably numerous pieces or equipment installations 170 of the interactive television program guide, although only one is shown in figure 1, to avoid overcomplicating the He drew.

The program guide data can be transmitted by main installation 120 to equipment 170 of the interactive television program guide, using any adequate solution. The data files can for example be encapsulated as objects and be transmitted using a scheme of adequate Internet-based addressing and a stack of protocols (for example, a stack that uses the protocol of the user datagram (UDP) and the Internet protocol (IP)).

The interactive television program guide will implements in TV 170 of the television program guide interactive Figures 2a - 2e show five configurations for program guide 170 equipment from interactive television As shown, team 170 of the interactive television program guide can include the equipment 210 distribution of the program guide located in the distribution installation of program guide 160, and the 220 user television equipment.

The interactive television program guide can be completely executed on the television equipment of user 220, using the configurations of figures 2a and 2c, or it can be partially executed in user equipment 220, and partially on equipment 210 of the television program guide interactive, using a configuration of appropriate client-server or in distributed form, as shown in figures 2b and 2d. The installation of distribution of program guide 160 can be an installation of appropriate distribution (for example, a system header of cable, a general distribution distribution facility, or any other suitable type of distribution installation, and being able to have a distribution team 210).

The program guide distribution team 210 of Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d may be the appropriate equipment to provide program guide data to the team 220 user television through the communications path 200. In Figure 2e, the distribution equipment of the guide programs 210 can provide program guide data to Internet service system 235 through for example a network of suitable computers or an Internet link. The team of distribution of program guide 210 may include, by For example, a transmission hardware suitable for distributing program guide data on a sideband of the channel television, in the vertical erase interval of a channel television, using a digital signal in the band, using a digital signal outside the band, or by another technique of adequate data transmission. The analog or digital signals of Video (for example, TV shows) can be also distributed by the distribution team 210 of the guide of programs to the user television equipment 220 through the 200 communications paths on multiple channels of television. Alternatively, the videos can be distributed to user television equipment 220 from some other installation of adequate distribution, such as a system header cable, a broadcast distribution installation, an installation satellite television distribution, or any other type Proper installation of media distribution.

Communication path 200 can be any suitable communications route to distribute the Program guide data. The communications route 200 it can include, for example, a satellite link, a link of telephone network, a cable or fiber optic link, a link microwave, an internet link, a specification link of Wired data service interface (DOCSIS), a combination of such links, or any other communications link suitable. Communications routes 200 have preferably a sufficient bandwidth to allow the distribution installation of program guide 160 or another distribution facility can distribute the programming of television to user television equipment 220. There are multiple pieces typically of user television equipment 220, and multiple 200 routes of associated communications, though  in figures 2a - 2d only one piece of equipment is shown of user television 220 and communications path 200, to avoid overcomplicating the drawings. If desired, the TV programming, other media, and guide data for programs can be supplied through tours of independent communications

Figure 2b shows a configuration illustrative for team 170 of the program guide interactive television in a media guide system interactive based on the client-server system or in the distributed system. As shown in Figure 2b, the distribution equipment of program guide 210 may include a server 250 of the program guide. The guide server 250 programs can use any suitable combination of hardware and software to provide a program based guide in the client-server system. The server of the program guide 250 can for example run a motor of a appropriate database (for example, Microsoft SQL Server) and provide program guide data in response to queries generated by a client of the program guide that is implemented in user television equipment 220. If it you want, the program guide server 250 can be located in main facility 120, or at other points, such as the head of the cable system, an installation of general distribution distribution, a distribution installation of satellite television, or any other suitable type of distribution facility

The program guide can recover the data the program guide of the program guide server 250 using any system based solution client-server The program guide can by example pass the SQL queries as messages to the server of the program guide 250. In another suitable solution, the guide for programs can invoke remote procedures that reside in the 250 program guide server, using one or more calls of the remote procedure. The program guide server 250 you can execute the SQL statements for such remote procedures invoked In another suitable solution, the client's objects executed by the program guide can communicate with the server objects executed by the guide's server 250 programs, for example using a request agent for objects (ORB). This may include the use of the Solution of the Distributed Component Object Model of Microsoft (DCOM), or the Petition Agent Architecture of Common Objects (CORBA), available through the Management Group of objects.

The program guide implemented in the team 170 of the interactive television program guide can communicate with the program guide server 250 through the 200 communications path, using any suitable network and the transport layer protocols, if desired. They can communicate, for example, using a protocol stack that Includes the Packet Exchange layers Sequenced / Exchange Network Interconnection Packages (SPX / IPX), the layers of the Protocol Control Protocol Transmission / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), layers of the Protocol Appletalk Transactions / Datagram Supply Protocol (ATP / DDP), DOCSIS or any other suitable network and layer protocols transport.

Figures 2c and 2d show guide systems of interactive television programs based on the Internet. The installation 160 distribution of the program guide can by example include the Internet 610 service system. The system of Internet services 610 can use any combination adequate hardware and software capable of providing data from the program guide to the guide with the use of a solution Internet-based (for example, the Transfer Protocol of Hypertext (HTTP)). If desired, the service system of Internet 610 may be located in a facility that is separate from the distribution installation of the program guide 160

If the program guide is implemented in the user television equipment 220, of the guide equipment 170 interactive television programs, as shown in the Figure 2c, the Internet service system 610 (or another suitable equipment in the installation 160 of the guide distribution programs that is connected to the service system of Internet 610) can provide program guide data to 220 user television equipment over the Internet, or by means of the distribution equipment 210 of the program guide, using any suitable internet based solution (for example, using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) through a link of the Control Protocol type of Transmission / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP). If the program guide implemented in equipment 170 of the television program guide interactive is a client-server guide, such As shown in Figure 2d, the guide server for programs 250 can obtain program guide data from the Internet service system 610. The program guide can also, however, obtain data from the program guide to starting from the 610 Internet service system through a Internet connection.

In another suitable configuration, the equipment 210 of Program guide distribution may include a team of computer or other suitable hardware on which it is implemented a first part or version of the television program guide interactive A second part or version of the program guide it can be implemented in the user's television equipment 220.  The two versions or portions of the interactive media guide can communicate using any communications scheme appropriate peers. (for example, messaging, llamas of remote procedures, etc.) and execute media functions interactive distributed between installation 160 of distribution of the program guide and television equipment of the user 220.

Other suitable configuration in which implements the online program guide on team 170 of television the television program guide is the one shown in Figure 2e The online program guide systems are they are described, for example, in the Boyer et al document (WO98 / 26584).

The user can have a personal computer (PC) 231 in which a customer guide is implemented programs or a web page browser. The personal computer 231 it can be connected to the Internet service system 235, to via Internet link 230. System 230 of the service Internet can use any suitable combination of hardware and computer software, which is capable of providing a application or web site of the program guide server in line. Internet service system 235 is shown in the Obtaining program guide data from installation 160 distribution of the program guide. In other solutions suitable, the 235 Internet service system can get information from other systems such as, for example, the main facility 120, local information services 1500, or well any other suitable source of data from the guide programs

A configuration is shown in Figure 3 illustrative of the user television equipment 220. The equipment of user television 220 of Figure 3 receives video or a stream of digital video and data from installation 160 distribution of the program guide (figure 1), or some other installation of proper distribution at input 260. During the display of  normal television, the user tunes a decoder 280 to a desired TV channel. The signal for said channel of Television is supplied on video output 300. The signal supplied at output 300 is typically a signal of radio frequency (RF) on a predefined channel (for example, the channel 3 or 4), or an analog demodulated video signal, but can be a digital signal supplied to the 360 TV on a bus appropriate digital (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) (no shown)). The video signal on video output 300 is received by secondary storage device 320 optional.

The interactive television program guide can be executed on decoder 280, on TV 360 (if the 360 TV has a proper processing circuit and a memory), in a suitable analog or digital receiver connected to the 360 TV, or a digital storage device 310, in the case that the digital storage device 310 has a circuit and memory of suitable processing. The guide of interactive television programs can also run on cooperative form in a suitable combination of these dispositives. TV application systems interactive in which you can run an application of the interactive television program guide in multiple devices are known by the applicant through the patent from the USA with serial number 09/186598, registered on 5 November 1998 (US 6820278).

The secondary storage device 320 it can also be any type of device or player storage of analog or digital programs (for example, a cassette recorder, a versatile disc recorder digital (DVD), etc.). Recording programs and other functions  can be controlled by decoder 280 using the control path 340. If the storage device secondary 320 is a cassette recorder, for example, the Typical control path 340 will include the use of a transmitter infrared coupled to the infrared receiver in the recorder cassettes that will normally accept orders from a control remote such as remote control 400. Remote control 400 can be used to control decoder 280, the device 320 secondary storage, and the 360 TV.

If desired, the user can record programs, program guide data, or a combination thereof in digital format on an optional digital storage device 310. The digital storage device 310 may be a recordable optical storage device (such as a DVD recorder capable of managing recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a hard disk drive or a digital tape drive), or Well any other digital storage device. The interactive television program guide systems that have digital storage devices are exposed, for example, in US Pat. No. 09/157256 by Hassell et al., registered on September 17, 1998
(WO00 / 16548).

The digital storage device 310 it can be contained in decoder 280 or it can be a external device connected to decoder 280 through a output port and the appropriate interface. If necessary, the processing circuit in decoder 280 formats the signals received from video, audio and data in a file format digital. Preferably, the file format is a format of open file such as the MPEG-2 standard of Group of Experts on Motion Pictures (MPEG) or the Standard of the Moving Union Photography Expert Group (MJPEG). The resulting data becomes a continuous stream towards the digital storage device 310 through a appropriate bus (for example, a bus that uses standard 1394 of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineer (IEEE), and that Store in a 310 digital storage device. In another suitable solution, the MPEG-2 data stream or the series of files could be received from a computer 210 of distribution of the program guide and being stored after.

The 360 TV receives the video signals from the secondary storage device 320, through the communications path 380. Video signals in the communications path 380 may be generated by the 320 secondary storage device when reproduced from new to prerecorded storage media (for example, a cassette or a recordable digital video disc), using a 310 digital storage device when played in a pre-recorded digital medium, being able to pass through from the decoder 280, and can be supplied directly to the 360 television from decoder 280 if the device 320 secondary storage was not included in the computer User TV 220, or they can be received directly on the 360 TV. During television viewing normal, the video signals supplied to the 360 TV correspond to the desired channel to which the user has tuned decoder 280. Video signals can be supplied  also to the 360 television by the decoder 280 when the decoder 280 be used to reproduce the information stored in digital storage device 310.

The decoder 280 may have a memory 440.  The memory 440 can be any memory or another storage device, such as an access memory random (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a memory Flash, a hard drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing instructions for the application of the program guide, and program guide data for use by the guide programs

Decoder 280 can have the device of communications 370 to communicate directly with the equipment 210 distribution of the program guide, a server guide 250 programs or the 610 Internet service system through of communication path 200. The device communications 370 can be a modem (for example, any modem standard analog or digital, a cell phone or cable modem), card network interface (for example, an Ethernet card, card Token ring, etc.), or any other device of proper communications. The communication device 370 can be also a personal computer with an Internet connection, by example, in the configuration shown in figures 2c and 2d. He TV 360 can also have said device Appropriate communications if desired. In a solution alternatively, user television equipment 220 can communicate with the Internet 610 service system through the distribution equipment 210, using a return path suitable.

A further embodiment is shown in Figure 4 generalized of the television equipment of the user 220 of the figure 3. As shown in Figure 4, the guide's data programs of the installation 160 distribution guide programs (figure 1) are received by the control circuit 420 of the 220 user television equipment. The circuit functions of 420 control can be provided using the configuration of the decoder of figures 2a and 2b. Alternatively, you are functions can be integrated into a television receiver advanced, a television-personal computer (PC / TV), or in any other suitable configuration. If desired, you can Use a combination of these configurations.

User television equipment 220 can also have a secondary storage device 470, and a 490 digital storage device to record the programming. The secondary storage device 470 can be any suitable type of storage device of analog or digital programs (for example, a recorder videocassettes, a digital versatile disc recorder (DVD), etc.). The recording of programs and other functions can be controlled by the control circuit 420. The device digital storage 490 can be, for example, a device of  recordable optical storage (such as a capable DVD recorder manage recordable DVD discs), a device for magnetic storage (such as a disk drive or a digital tape drive), or any other device digital storage

User television equipment 220 can also have a 630 memory. The 630 memory can be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), Flash memory, a hard drive, a combination of said devices, etc., ie suitable for storing the Application instructions for the program guide and data of the program guide for use by the circuit control 420.

The user television equipment 220 of the Figure 4 may also have the communication device 511 to support communications between the program guide and the distribution equipment 210, the program guide server 250, or the 610 Internet service system through the communications path 200. The communications device 511 can be a modem (for example, any suitable standard analog or digital, a cellular unit, or a cable modem), network interface card (for example, an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or any other device of appropriate communications (for example, a modulator, a re-modulator, or media that can transmit within of the vertical erase interval (VBI) of an analog channel or within the data track or in a digital channel.

A user can control the operation of the 220 user television set with input device of user 460. The input device of user 460 can be a pointing device, a wireless remote control, keyboard, touch panel, voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device. For have access to the media, the user instructs the circuit control 420, to display a desired television channel or Well, another media source in the presentation device 450. In another embodiment, audio data may be output in the audio output device 451. The display device 450 can be any suitable TV, monitor, or Any other display device. The device of Audio output can be any suitable media speaker, or Well any other suitable audio output device. For have access to the functions of the program guide, the user gives instructions to the program guide implemented in equipment 170 of the interactive television program guide, to generate a main menu or another screen to display the guide desired programs for presentation on the device presentation 450.

Figure 5a describes a template of 500 illustrative display of an interactive media guide of according to an embodiment of the present invention. Template of presentation 500 includes groups 502, 504, 506, 508. In some embodiments, the groups may be designed to indicate means in which the user is interested, without indicating the content (for example, the criteria for including the media in a group can be arbitrary, user defined, predefined, or any other suitable criteria), titles, or the source of the media. One or more groups shown in Figure 5a can be removed if desired, or You can add other groups if desired. In addition to that, the groups they can be user configurable, or they can be predefined.

Figure 5b shows a configuration illustrative of the groups in figure 5a. The menu screen of Figure 5b provides the user the opportunities to see "what is now" in the media within one or more groups. In the embodiment in Figure 5b, the groups are configured Regarding Recent Favorites 512, Old Favorites 514, Recommendations 516, Navigation 518, Special Interest 520, Categories 522, and Preview Scan 524. These groups They are intended to be illustrative only. They can Provide other types of groups.

In response to the user who selects Recent Favorites 512, the interactive media guide can indicate to the user the means available on demand that meet the criteria of the favorite parameters set by the user, media with similar characteristics to characteristics of the media reviewed or recorded recently, or any other combination thereof. The interactive media guide can also provide a list of means that the user can select, in which it can be given to the user the opportunity to see such media, buy the media, set a reminder to view media, or add attributes from the media to a user profile, or execute any action adequate with respect to the media. The Recent Favorites group 512 can also indicate any recorded media recently, recently recorded media that meet the user parameters, or any other combination of the same. Recently recorded media may have been recorded by the user's home computer or by a remote server with regarding the user's domestic equipment. Can also be used Any other combination of these solutions.

In response to the user who selects the group of Old Favorites 514 from the main menu, the media guide interactive can indicate to the user the recorded media previously meeting the user's favorites, means that they have similar characteristics to Recently re-viewed or recorded media, Video on demand, or any other suitable combination of same. The interactive media guide can also provide a list of media that can be selected by the user, that can give the user the opportunity to view these media, buy media, set a reminder to see the media, or add media attributes to a profile of user, or execute any appropriate action with respect to media. Media previously recorded that have been recorded from according to the user's wishes (that is, in response to user that indicates a desire that you need for a medium in particular or media with certain recorded features). The media can be recorded on the user's home equipment, or in a remote server with respect to the user's address. In other proper solution, a server can record the media automatically and provide old favorites available for the user for the re-display of the user to through the interactive media guide. Can be used also any suitable combination of these solutions.

In response to the selection recommendations of user 516 of main menu 510, the media guide interactive can indicate to the user the available media recommended, previously recorded media, media on demand, or Any other suitable combination. The means can be distributed in progress or previously recorded. The media guide interactive can also provide a list of media that can select the user, which can be given the opportunity to watch the media, buy the media, set up a reminder to see the media, or add attributes to the means for a user profile, or execute any action adequate with respect to the media. The recommended means 516 can be recommended to the user to use any solution adequate. Programs can be recommended based on example in preferences or according to favorites. The programs be editorially recommended The media guide provider interactive can, for example, provide re-visualizations or recommendations from the staff in the service provider. Recommendations can be also promotional or informational (for example, ads sponsored, information announcements, etc.).

In response to Navigation 518 selection by User part of the main menu, the media guide interactive can provide the user with the opportunity to browse listings for media that are available in progress. The media can be distributed media in progress, or media that have been prerecorded and available to users under demand from your home computer or a remote server (for example, guide server, internet server, etc.). The Guide interactive media can also provide a list of means that the user can select, which can be selected when selecting give the user the opportunity to see the media, buy the media, set a reminder to view media, or add media attributes to a user profile, or run any appropriate action with respect to the media.

The listings can be analyzed using Any suitable solution. Listings for example can be organized by hours, channel, gender, or any other parameter suitable. If desired, the interactive media guide can provide users with the opportunity to specify characteristics for which listings are displayed. Whether You may wish to submit one or more listings with a video on partial screen of the selected list in progress (for example, overlit). If desired, the video can be viewed together with the media that the user is seeing in progress. The video can be for example a part of the means available in progress (it is say, the point at which they are distributed in progress), a part predefined media (for example, the first twenty seconds), or another video clip that is supplied to the guide interactive media For audio media, it can be displayed a graphic associated with the audio while the audioclip of the Audio can be played if desired.

In response to the user who selects the group Special Interest 520 from the main menu, the media guide interactive can provide the user with the opportunity to revisit the media listings that have an interest Special for the user. The media can be determined as means of special interest using a suitable solution anyone. The interactive media guide can provide also a list of media that the user can select, which when selected you can give the user the opportunity to see the media, buy the media, set a reminder to see the media, or add media attributes to a user profile, or execute any appropriate action with respect to the media. The interactive media guide can for example allow the user select or define special interest categories. In other solution, the interactive media guide provider or the application can select special interest categories. He interactive media guide provider can for example decide to introduce new types of media in a month dice. Any other suitable solution can be used.

In response to the selection categories of the User 522 of the main menu, the interactive media guide can provide the user with an opportunity to select a or more media categories for which the user wishes have access to media listings. The media guide interactive can also provide a list of media that the user can select, and to be selected can be given the user the opportunity to see the media, buy the media, set a reminder to view media, or add attributes from the media to a user profile, or run any other adequate action with respect to the media. The categories can be selected by the user (for example, from a screen of configuration), defined by the user, selected by the system, or defined or selected using any other adequate solution. In response, for example, to the selection of user of a group of the categories presented by the guide of interactive media, the interactive media guide can provide the user with media listings to distribute or record media in progress in the selected group or categories.

In response to user selection from Preview Scan Group 524, the media guide interactive can provide the user with the opportunity to explore previews of available media in progress. The interactive media guide can also provide a list of means that the user can select, when selected it will be can give the user the opportunity to see the media, buy the media, set a reminder to view media, or add media attributes to a user profile, or run any appropriate action with respect to the media. The media available in progress can include any media distributed in course in the user equipment, or media previously recorded in the user equipment or stored on a remote server with respect to the user's address. Media previews include videos or audio clips associated with the media.

Video and audio clips can be supplied to the interactive media guide using any adequate solution. The clips can be supplied together with the media, for example, as digital files within the range vertical erase (VBI) of an analog channel or within a data track of a digital channel. The clips can be supplied separately from the media to a media guide interactive running at least partially in the user's home equipment, using any solution owed. The clips can be, for example, supplied to the application on demand from a media source. Clips they can be supplied, for example, as part of the data supplied to the interactive media guide, using a stream continuous, periodic download, periodic polling, or any other adequate solution. Previews can be the part in distributed media course in progress, or a predefined part of the media, if desired. The preview clips can be presented to the user using any solution adequate. The interactive media guide can for example provide the user with an opportunity to select the Previews in media listings. In another solution appropriate, previews can be provided using a passive exploration The interactive media guide can recycle through previews until the user indicates the desire to have access to the media or leave the exploration. The interactive media guide can provide the user with opportunities to skip a preview and have Access to the following preview if desired.

Once the user selects a group in particular (for example, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524), at User can be presented with a plurality of subgroups. The Figure 5c shows an interactive media guide, whose group of 522 categories expands to display sports subgroups 526, popular shows 528, galas 530, and games 532. Between parentheses, after each subgroup, the interactive media guide Figure 5c indicates how many are media titles available for the given subgroup. For example, there are five sports media titles available in the sports subgroup 526

Figure 6 shows the illustrative screen 600 of "What is there", that the interactive media guide can provide the user, to indicate the available means in progress with minimal information. The "What is it? Screen that there is "in figure 6 can be used as a screen of main menu, or in conjunction with a main menu screen, such as the main menu screen in figure 5b. By example, in response to the selection of the menu by the user in the menu of figure 5b, the interactive media guide can present the "What is there" screen in figure 6 to indicate the number of media listings or the available previews, according to the selection in the selected menu.

Screen 600 of Figure 6 of "What is it? there is "indicates to the user the number of selections of the means available for any suitable types and groupings of the media, as indicated in parentheses. In the example of Figure 6 shows three groups of media selections available: Source 602, Category 609, and 620 Ratings. source may indicate the means available according to the Source, such as the live media available (for example, programs) 604, media recorded by the user 606, programs on demand (for example, video on demand or audio on demand) 608, or Any other type of suitable source. Category 609 can indicate the means available for any suitable category such such as sports 612, popular shows 614, 616 galas, or 619 games. 620 ratings may indicate available means of different editorial qualifications, such as the means of five stars 622, four stars 624, three 626 stars, two 628 stars, or one 630 star.

Groups and subgroups may be included on the screens using any suitable solution. The groups and subgroups can be programmed within the guide of interactive media In another suitable solution even, the groups and the subgroups (and the menu selections in Figure 5b if you you want) can be dynamically selected by the media guide interactive based on what is available by providing Both the user a dynamic guide.

Figure 7a shows another configuration of illustrative screen to display groups that indicate the media without indicating the title, content (for example, the criteria for include media in a group can be arbitrary, defined by the user, predefined or any other suitable combination), or media source. Screen 700 can be displayed when the user first calls the program guide and that It can be generated in any suitable way. For example, the screen 700 can be generated by the program guide to from the data downloaded from a remote location by any suitable means. Screen 700 can be downloaded also as a remote HTML document and viewed as a page WEB. Screen 700 can contain text, graphics, animations, video, any other suitable content, or any combination adequate of them.

Screen 700 may contain a window 710 with image in the guide, which contains the content 711 of means for the media that are being viewed in progress (for example, you can display media for the program on the channel in which it find the decoder tuned), means to be seen in the future (for example, an advance for VOD media), or any other suitable means. Screen 700 may include an 720 or interactive type passive window, which you can display the 721 ad. The 720 advertisement can be any graphic, text or video of appropriate passive or active type, or another announcement of a program, product or service. For example, him title or ad of a movie that is being presented can Be an ad Like another example, a third can Provide an interactive ad for a particular product. If a user wants additional information regarding the product,  the user can indicate this desire by clicking or selecting ad 720. In addition to this, the user may be provided with Additional information regarding the advertised product. This additional information may have any suitable form; may be provided as a static or interactive ad, or by example can be a web page associated with the advertised product. Menu 730 can be any of the media guides Interactives mentioned above; for example, it can be any of the media guides shown in the figure 5-6.

In response to the user's selection of a group or subgroup, the interactive media guide can provide to the user some media listings according to the selection of the Username. Media listings can be provided by hours, per channel, or using any other suitable solution. For example, Figure 7b shows another embodiment of menu 730 of Figure 7a Figure 7b shows the media selections 742, 744, and 746, which are available in the first subgroups. In another embodiment, in response to the user's selection of a group or subgroup, menu 750 of Figure 7c can be displayed.  Menu 750 may contain window 760 of image-in-guide, which contains the 761 media content for the media being viewed in course (for example, you can present media for the program in the channel in which the decoder in progress is tuned), a preview of the media selected by the user, or Any other suitable means. For example, if the user has After selecting media list 754, a Advancement or announcement for said media list in window 760 of image-in-guide. Menu 750 can also indicate interactive or passive 763 ads in the window 762. Menu 750 can also display the group or selected subgroup 752, and media listings associated with said group or subgroup 754, 756 and 758. The media listings 754, 756, and 758 can be provided from a wide variety of sources. For example, media listings 754 can be a general broadcast media list. The media list 756 it can be a list of locally stored media, and the list of media 758 can be a list of video media under demand.

In some embodiments, the user may customize the groups according to the user's tastes. This It can be done in many ways. The user can be provided with a plurality of groups to select from, and you will be can give the opportunity to determine what the groups will be, if they exist, which must be displayed under the selected groups. For example, Figure 8a shows a configuration screen that can allow the user to configure the groups according to the personal tastes of the user. The 800 configuration screen it can contain groups 810. The user can select which are the groups that you would like to have displayed, for example, selecting the appropriate check box in the boxes of  selection 815. The user can also select one or more 820 subgroups that should be displayed under the group selected, for example by selecting the box from appropriate selection, for example by pointing to the selection box appropriate from the 825 box selection grid under the appropriate subgroup. Subgroups 820 can be predefined, or the user can have the opportunity to enter text in the 820 fields of the subgroup files of the category to be displayed.

In some embodiments, users are told gives the opportunity to dynamically create the menu screen of the media guide In figure 8b, the user is given the opportunity of entering one or more user-defined 830 searches and saved by the interactive media guide. The user can also select one or more 850 groups under which they can Display selected searches. By indicating the desire of enter a search by the check box section 835 appropriate, the user is given the opportunity to name the search string (for example, "Rich Favorites"). To the user is also given the opportunity to introduce a chain of search. The search string can be a search string Boolerian, a search string in natural language, or any other suitable search string. Figure 8c illustrates a example screen 855 that can be presented to the user, when the user presents a desire to introduce a chain of search. The user can enter a wish to enter a search string The user can enter a string of search in query box 858. To further refine the search, the user can select one or more criteria of Search 860 to apply the search. These criteria can include, for example, the time of the program, the theme of the program, or keyword search. Subsequently, upon entering the menu screen, the guide will perform the search entered by the user, and will display only those 850 groups defined by the user that contain programs that meet the criteria of search. The user can also be given the opportunity to determine when the search should be executed, by selection of the appropriate check box from the field of search criteria 870. For example, the user can select that the search be executed immediately, at a scheduled time (for example, at 9:00 AM, or every hourly time), or in the presence of a specified event (for example, when a group or subgroup is selected, at the end of a program  specified, or any other suitable event).

Figure 9a is a flow chart of the illustrative stages that are included in the creation and visualization of an interactive media guide according to a embodiment of the present invention. In stage 900, they are Indicators provided in the main menu for the provision of media group indicators that are available for the Username. Groups can for example indicate media without indicate the title, source or content (for example, the criteria to include media in a group can be arbitrary, defined by the user, predefined, or any other suitable criteria) of the media Illustrative groups include, for example, recent favorites, old favorites, recommendations, navigation, special interest, categories, vision exploration previous, or any other suitable category. In step 902, the user indication of a desired media group can be received by, for example, equipment 170 of the guide of interactive television programs of figure 1 (for example, the  groups 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522 or 524 of Figure 5b). He User may also be provided with an indication of the available means, in step 908. In one embodiment (not shown), the user may be provided with an indication of the available media listings displayed by the hour, and in the same list, media that includes scheduled media by means for hours that are available but that find without the scheduled time. In another embodiment, the user may be provided with indicators of the available subgroups, in step 904 (for example, subgroups 526, 528, 530, 532 of Figure 5c). User indication of a media subgroup desired can be received in step 906. In step 908, the User may be provided with media indicators available.

When media indicators are displayed available, the user's indication of the desired media can be received in step 910. In response to this indication, can provide the user with the opportunity to execute an action appropriate in the media, in step 912. The user can be given the opportunity to watch the media, buy the media, set up a reminder to view media, or add media attributes to a user profile, or execute any appropriate action with Regarding the media. In an example, the screen presented in course can be replaced with an on-screen presentation complete of the selected media or content.

Figure 9b is a flow chart of the Illustrative stages included in the configuration of a screen menu according to user preferences. On stage 914, the user may be provided with group indicators media available (for example, can be presented to the user the media groups 810 of figure 8a). In step 916, it can provide the user with indicators of the subgroups, by example, subgroups 820 of figure 8a. These subgroups can be predefined, or the user can be given the opportunity to Enter the user's own subgroups. In step 918, it You can display the user indication of the groups for the inclusion in the main menu that can be received, for example, using equipment 170 in figure 1 of the television guide interactive (for example, by selecting one or more selection boxes from selection boxes 815 of Figure 8a). In step 920, the indication of the user of the subgroups to be displayed under the selected groups (for example, by selecting the check boxes appropriate from grid 825 of the boxes of selection). In step 922, it can be determined how many titles of media are available that are associated with the groups and selected subgroups. In step 924, the User-defined menu screen, including the group, indicated subgroups and the number of available media titles and associated with such groups and subgroups.

Figure 9c is a flow chart of the Illustrative stages included in the configuration of a screen of menus according to user preferences. On stage 926, the user may be provided with indicators of the user-defined search queries available (by For example, search queries 830 in Figure 8b). In the step 928, the user may be provided with indicators of the available groups, for example, groups 850 of Figure 8b. In step 930, the user indication can be received for enter a query using, for example, the team of the interactive television guide 170 of Figure 1 (for example, by selecting one or more check boxes of the selection boxes 835 of figure 8b. Queries can be schedule to run periodically (for example, each time), when the presence of an event takes place (for example, when a program ends) or on demand. By indicating a I wish to enter a query, the user can be given the opportunity to name the search query (for example, "sports", or "Rich favorites"), and enter a search string that will be associated with the search query named in step 932 (for example, figure 8c).

In step 934, the indication can be received of the user about the groups resulting from the queries being able to be displayed (for example, by selecting the boxes of appropriate selection from the grid of selection 845). If the user does not indicate any of the groups, then the Search query can be displayed as an individual group.    In step 836, the defined menu screen can be displayed by the user, indicating the groups, subgroups and the results of the search query (that is, the number of media titles matching the search query).

Thus, the systems and the methods to provide users with the guide to find media provided by different media sources. Technicians skilled in the art will observe that the present invention It can be done through other embodiments than exposed, which are presented as illustrative and not as limiting, and where the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims (75)

1. A method to allow a user from a interactive media guide have access to media provided by a plurality of media sources through a display screen, comprising the method: provide media group options in the that media group options indicate available media for the user, indicating any of the contents, titles, or media sources; provide a plurality of indicators of means in response to the user's selection of an option of the media group, in which media indicators are associated with the selected media group option, and in the that the plurality of media indicators identify the media provided by the plurality of media sources, and where the plurality of media indicators includes a first indicator of media for available media on a scheduled basis and a second media indicator for available media on an unscheduled base; Y execute an action associated with the indicator of means in response to the selection by the user of a media indicator, based on the plurality of the indicators media. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes providing means that are identified by the media indicator selected in response to the user that Select the media indicator. 3. The method of claim 1, which It also includes the indication of the number of available media in course that are associated with a media group option. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein media group options are defined by the Username. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein user-defined media group options include media indicators that meet the criteria User defined. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the criteria defined by the user are a defined search by the user 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media group options comprises an option from the group of recent favorite media, and an option from the group of old favorite media, an option of the media group of recommendations, an option of the navigation media group, a option of the special interest media group, a group option of category media, or an option of the media group of preview scan. 8. The method of claim 7, which It also includes: provide media indicators that are editorially recommended in response to user selection of the media group option of recommendations. 9. The method of claim 7, which It also includes: Provide promotional media indicators in response to the user's selection of the group option of means of recommendations. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of media indicators is associated with the option of the navigation media group and presented in response to user selection of the media group option of navigation, the method also comprising: display the content in a video window video corresponding to the selected media indicator associated with the navigation media group option in response to user selection of a media indicator associated with the navigation media group option. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein video content is the media content available in course. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein The video content is a video clip. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein Video content is a video preview. 14. The method of claim 7, which It also includes: visualize a plurality of options media subgroups associated with the media group option of categories in response to the user's selection of the option of category media group; Y visualize the plurality of media indicators in response to the user's selection of a subgroup option of media, in which media indicators are associated with the subgroup option of selected media. 15. The method of claim 14, which It also includes: Indicate the number of media indicators that are associated with each of the plurality of means of the media subgroup. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein media subgroup options comprise an option of sports subgroup, an option of the entertainment subgroup popular, an option of the subgroup of galas, and an option of subgroup of groups. 17. The method of claim 7, which It also includes: visualize the plurality of media indicators in response to the user's selection of the group option of scanning media preview, in which the plurality of media indicators is associated with the option of preview display media group; Y display the content in a video window video corresponding to a selected media indicator, in response to user selection of a media indicator associated with the scan media group option of preview 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the execution of an action includes obtaining the means to from a local file server, a file server remote, a prerecorded videotape, a television station or An audio station. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein media subgroup options are provided for each media group option. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein each media subgroup option indicates the number of indicators of available media that are associated with each option of the media subgroup. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of media subgroup options indicates the media available in progress by indicating the content, title or media source. 22. The method of claim 19, which It also includes: Display media indicators in response to the user's selection of a media subgroup option, in which media indicators are associated with the option of media subgroup selected. 23. The method of claim 19, wherein media subgroup options are displayed according with user preferences. 24. The method of claim 19, wherein media subgroup options are displayed according with the criteria defined by a remote service. 25. The method of claim 19, wherein media subgroup options are created dynamically. 26. An interactive media guide system to allow a user to access media provided by a plurality of media sources through a screen visual, comprising the system: means to provide group options of media, in which media group options indicate means available to the user, without indicating the content, title or source of the media; means to provide a plurality of media indicators in response to the user's selection of the media group option, where media indicators are associated with the option of the selected media group, in which the plurality of media indicators identifies the media provided by the plurality of media sources, and where the plurality of media indicators includes a first indicator of media for available media on a scheduled basis, and a second media indicator for available media according to a unscheduled base; Y means to execute an action associated with a media indicator in response to the user's selection of a media indicator based on the plurality of indicators of media. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the action includes the media supply that is identified by the selected media indicator in response to the selection of the media indicator user. 28. The system of claim 26, which It also includes: means to indicate the number of means available in progress that are associated with the group option of media. 29. The system of claim 26, wherein media group options are defined by the Username. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein user-defined media group options include media indicators that meet the criteria User defined. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the criteria defined by the user is a search defined by the user. 32. The system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of media group options comprise an option from the group of recent favorite media, an option from old favorite media group, a media group option of recommendations, an option of the navigation media group, an option of the special interest media group, an option of category media group, or a media group option Preview scan. 33. The system of claim 32, which It also includes: means to provide media indicators which are recommended editorially in response to the selection of the media group option user of recommendations. 34. The system of claim 32, which It also includes: means to provide media indicators promotional in response to the user's selection of the option from media groups of recommendations. 35. The system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of media indicators are associated with the navigation media group option, and presented in response to the user's selection of the group option navigation means, also comprising the system: means to display in a video window the video content corresponding to the media indicator selected associated with the media group option of navigation in response to user selection of an indicator of media associated with the media group option of navigation. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein video content is the media content available in course. 37. The system of claim 35, wherein The video content is a video clip. 38. The system of claim 35, wherein Video content is a video preview. 39. The system of claim 32, which It also includes: means to visualize a plurality of options of media subgroups associated with the media group option of categories in response to the user's selection of the option from the category media group; Y means to visualize the plurality of media indicators in response to the user's selection of the media subgroup option, in which media indicators are associated with the media subgroup option selected 40. The system of claim 39, which It also includes the indication of the number of media indicators that are associated with each of the plurality of options of the media subgroup. 41. The system of claim 39, wherein media subgroup options comprise an option of sports subgroup, an option of the entertainment subgroup popular, an option of the subgroup of galas, and an option of subgroup of groups. 42. The system of claim 32, which It also includes: means to visualize the plurality of media indicators, in response to the user's selection of the preview scan media group option, in the that the plurality of media indicators is associated with the preview scan media group option; Y means to display in a video window the video content corresponding to the media indicator selected in response to the media selection of an indicator of media associated with the scan media group option Preview 43. The system of claim 26, wherein the execution of an action comprises obtaining media from a local file server, a remote file server, a prerecorded video tape, a television station or a radio station.
Audio. 44. The system of claim 26, wherein media subgroup options are provided for each media group option. 45. The system of claim 44, wherein each media subgroup option indicates the number of indicators of available media that are associated with each option of the media subgroup. 46. The system of claim 44, wherein the plurality of media subgroup options indicate the means available in progress, by indicating the content, title or media source. 47. The system of claim 44, which It also includes: means to display media indicators in response to the user's selection of a subgroup option of media, where media indicators are associated with the subgroup option of selected media. 48. The system of claim 44, wherein media subgroup options are displayed according to User preferences 49. The system of claim 44, wherein media subgroup options are displayed according to the criteria defined by a remote service. 50. The system of claim 44, wherein Media subgroup options are created dynamically. 51. An interactive media guide for provide a guide to users to locate the media provided by a plurality of different media sources by means of a presentation screen, comprising: a video display adapter, a microprocessor programmed to: direct the video display adapter at media group options, in which media group options indicate the available media for the user, without indicating the content, title or source of the media; direct the video display adapter to display a plurality of media indicators in response to user selection of a media group option, in the that the media indicators are associated with the option of selected media group, in which the plurality of indicators of media identify the media provided by the plurality of media sources, and where the plurality of indicators of media include a first media indicator for media available according to a programmed base and a second indicator of media for available media on an unscheduled basis; Y execute an action associated with an indicator of means in response to the user's selection of an indicator of media from the plurality of media indicators. 52. The method of claim 51, wherein the action includes the supply of means that is identified by the selected media indicator in response to the selection of the media indicator user. 53. The method of claim 51, wherein The microprocessor is programmed to direct the adapter video screen to display the number of media available in progress that are associated with a group option media. 54. The method of claim 51, wherein media group options are defined by the Username. 55. The method of claim 54, wherein user-defined media group options include media indicators that meet the criteria User defined. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the criteria defined by the user correspond to a search User defined. 57. The method of claim 51, wherein the plurality of media group options comprises an option of the recent favorite media group, and a group option of old favorite media, an option of the media group of recommendations, an option of the navigation media group, a option of the special interest media group, a group option of category media, or an option of the media group of Preview scan. 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to direct the adapter of the video screen to display media indicators that are editorially recommended in response to user selection of the media group option. 59. The method of claim 57, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to direct the adapter of the video screen to display media indicators promotional in response to the user's selection of the option from the recommendations media group. 60. The method of claim 57, wherein the plurality of media indicators are associated with the navigation media group option and presented in response to the user's selection of the group option navigation means, and in which the microprocessor is programmed to direct the video screen adapter to display in a video window the video content corresponding to the Selected media indicator associated with the group option of navigation media, in response to the user's selection of a media indicator associated with the media group option of navigation. 61. The method of claim 60, wherein video content is the media content available in course. 62. The method of claim 60, wherein The video content is a video clip. 63. The method of claim 60, wherein Video content is a video preview. 64. The method of claim 67, wherein The microprocessor is programmed to: steer the video screen adapter to visualize a plurality of subgroup options associated with the media group category option in response to user selection of the media group option of categories; Y steer the video screen adapter to visualize the plurality of media indicators in response to the user selection of a media subgroup option, in the that the media indicators are associated with the option of subgroup of selected media. 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to direct the adapter of the video screen to display the number of indicators of means that are associated with each of the plurality of media subgroup options. 66. The method of claim 64, wherein media subgroup options comprise an option of sports subgroup, an option of the entertainment subgroup popular, an option of the subgroup of galas, and an option of subgroup of groups. 67. The method of claim 57, wherein The microprocessor is programmed to: steer the video screen adapter to visualize the plurality of media indicators in response to the user selection of the media groups option, in the that the plurality of media indicators is associated with the pre-scan media group option; Y steer the video screen adapter to display the content on a video on the video screen corresponding to the media indicator selected in response to user selection of a media indicator associated with the pre-scan media group option. 68. The method of claim 51, wherein the execution of an action includes obtaining means to from the local file server, a file server remote, a prerecorded videotape, a television station or An audio station. 69. The method of claim 51, wherein media subgroup options are provided for each media group option. 70. The method of claim 69, wherein each media subgroup option indicates the number of indicators of available media that are associated with each option of the media subgroup. 71. The method of claim 69, wherein the plurality of media subgroup options indicates the media available in progress, by indicating the content, title or media source. 72. The method of claim 69, wherein the microprocessor is configured to direct the adapter from the video screen to display media indicators in response to the user's selection of the subgroup option of media, in which media indicators are associated with the subgroup option of selected media. 73. The method of claim 69, wherein media subgroup options are displayed according to User preferences 74. The method of claim 69, wherein media subgroup options are displayed according to the criteria defined by a remote service. 75. The method of claim 69, wherein Media subgroup options are created dynamically.